Sabu to receive Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame award at GCW The Coldest Winter 3

  • Ian Carey
  • By 

Sabu is set to receive his Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame plaque this weekend.

Game Changer Wrestling has announced that Joey Janela will present Sabu with the award on Saturday at The Coldest Winter 3 in Los Angeles.

Sabu was scheduled to be inducted into the Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame on April 7, 2024, in Philadelphia as part of WrestleMania week. However, when it came time for him to be officially honored, Sabu wasn’t there.

GCW’s Brett Lauderdale explained his absence, writing, “In the true spirit of independent wrestling, sabu has decided to keep his deposit and no show the indie hall of fame ceremony today. He accepted the booking and took the money, but doesnt wanna get in the elevator and come upstairs. What a legend.”

Sabu was at WrestleCon at the time, which was taking place in the same hotel. Lauderdale later noted that Sabu returned the $300 deposit and he donated it to the William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia.

Other wrestlers inducted into the 2024 Class of the Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame include The Briscoes (Jay & Mark Briscoe), Trent Acid, Steve Corino, Mercedes Martinez, Eddie Gilbert, and indie superfan Kevin “Whack Packer” Hogan.

At last month’s People vs. GCW show at Hammerstein Ballroom, it was announced that Sabu will have his retirement match at Joey Janela’s Spring Break this year. Janela had challenged him to the bout but recently suffered a torn biceps and likely will not be cleared in time for the show. Janela was originally scheduled to wrestle Super Crazy on Saturday.

GCW The Coldest Winter 3 Lineup for Saturday, March 1, 2025:

  • Joey Janela to present Sabu with his Indie Hall of Fame award
  • GCW World Champion Effy defends against Sidney Akeem
  • GCW Tag Team Champions The Gahbage Daddies (Alec Price & Cole Radrick) defend against Violence Is Forever (Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku)
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Drew Parker
  • Rich Swann vs. Mance Warner
  • Masha Slamovich vs. Super Crazy
  • The Bollywood Boyz (Gurv Sihra & Harv Sihra) vs. Los Desperados (Arez & Gringo Loco)
  • Women’s Scramble Match: Zayda Steel, Megan Bayne, Sandra Moone, Dark Sheik, Vipress, Zara Zakher